The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, during the 5th Regional Presidential Summit in Durres, Republic of Albania, held bilateral meetings with the President of the Republic of Albania, Bujar Nishani, the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic and the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga.

Key discussion topic at the meetings with presidents Vujanovic, Jahjaga and Nishani was infrastructure connectivity, namely implementation of the initiative for the Adriatic-Ionian Highway and its connectivity with corridors 8 and 10. All presidents agreed that this project will connect the markets and increase the economic compatibility and competitiveness of all countries involved, and that it should be on the top of the regional cooperation agenda. It was agreed to intensify contacts in order to provide, with joint efforts, EU support for the project. At the meetings with all interlocutors, information and views on the current internal economic and political situation in the countries and the region were exchanged, as well as on the situation with regard to the European integration. All interlocutors expressed their mutual support for EU and NATO integration processes and expressed positive expectations from the forthcoming European Council in December and the next NATO Summit to be held in 2014.

The meetings also discussed bilateral relations and cooperation.

President Ivanov and President Vujanovic concluded that there are no pending issues between the Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro, that the two countries are focused on identical foreign policy priorities and goals, membership in NATO and the EU and intensive regional cooperation, whereas they agreed that all conditions are met, in the upcoming period, highest priority to be given to the further development of economic cooperation.

At the meeting with the President of the Republic of Kosovo, President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia remains committed to building good neighborly relations, overall cooperation and advocates that all challenges should be overcome institutionally, through an open dialogue. In that regard, satisfaction was expressed with the settlement of the recent problem in the trade exchange and hope was expressed that in the future such problems will not reoccur that restrain the economic cooperation between the two countries. President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia fully supports the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Republic of Kosovo and commended the results achieved in the talks between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo, being a strong impulse for resolving the outstanding issues in the region. President Jahjaga expressed satisfaction with the participation at the 5th Regional Summit which is an added value to the bilateral and regional relations and extended her gratitude to President Ivanov for his role in these summits, primary aimed at to include Kosovo in regional initiatives.

At the meeting with Bujar Nishani, the President of the Republic of Albania, both presidents expressed hope that the continued and fruitful political dialogue will contribute to increase economic cooperation and trade.

President Nishani expressed appreciation for President Ivanov's personal contribution for the achieved level of friendly relations between the two countries, which should serve as a role model in the region, as well as for the engagement and the role of President Ivanov in these summits which have become useful and important tradition and are expected to create atmosphere for implementation of joint projects, beneficial for all countries. Both interlocutors agreed that the European integration of the Western Balkans is essential for regional stability and development, and in that direction the European Union to find solutions and to maintain the credibility of the enlargement policy as its most successful policy.